Training

Cal's PoV:

Cal walked to the training arena the next morning, nervous beyond anything.

She reached the arena and saw Azriel, Cassian, Rhys and Feyre training. She looked around, thinking about how much of a misfit she was.

"Hey, Cal," said Cassian, looking up from the punching bag. "Az told us you will be joining us. So, you ready?"

"Yeah," said Cal, looking nervously at Az.

He just gave her an encouraging smile and nodded towards Cassian, signalling her to walk to him.

She stood in the ring opposite to Cassian and he handed her a dagger.

"Just practice swinging it," he said. "Get your hands adjusted to it. If you want to change a weapon, choose from there." He gestured towards a table where she saw a multitude of weapons. "Just know what you are comfortable with in the next seven days. Then, I will teach you how to fight a hand-to-hand combat."

She nodded.

Cassian showed her how to swing the dagger, how to jab.

The dagger didn't quite feel right to her. It wasn't suited to her.

She spent the entire day trying to get her hands adjusted, but nothing worked.

She spent the evening, breaking her head over manually treating ashwood wounds.

Things weren't really looking up.

She heard a knock on the door and she opened it to find Azriel standing there with a smile.

"I got you something," he said and gave her a bunch of pink roses.

"Thank you," she said, grinning like an idiot at him. "They are very pretty."

She took the flowers and then put it in a glass into which she poured some water.

She didn't know what she had done to deserve the flowers, she wasn't even that great, or pretty, or talented. And right now, she was feeling like shit.

"Why the flowers?" she asked, sitting down on the chair as Az sat on the bed.

"What do you mean?" Az gave her a look of utter confusion.

"I mean, why the flowers suddenly? Is there something special going on?"

"I need something special to get you flowers?" He gave her a confused smile. "I just wanted to get you flowers, you seemed to have liked them while on our walk through Velaris."

"So you just- you just got me flowers for no reason?"

"I mean, I have a reason. The reason being that I wanted to get you the flowers. Why is that so hard to understand?" He chuckled slightly.

"No, it- its very nice. Thank you."

"You are welcome. I am glad you liked them."

She smiled at him, the gesture being so sweet made her blush madly.

"You looked a little down at training today," said Az. "Is everything okay? You seemed excited last evening about the training."

"I don't know, Az," she closed the book and walked to him. She reached out to hold his hand casually, playing with his fingers. "I am unable to wield the dagger properly. It just- I don't know."

"Have you tried the other weapons?" He intertwined his fingers with hers, pulling her close.

"I don't know which one to try."

"You can try the broadsword. I mean, I saw your stance today. Broadsword could be a good fit."

"You think I will actually be able to fight?"

"Yes, of course. You are so determined. You can do anything you put your mind to, Snowflake. But yeah, with a broadsword, you will have to train a little harder, its heavier than your average dagger."

"I can train, if I am able to wield it. So, I train with Cassian only?"

"You can train with Cass, me or Rhys. We were raised at the Illyrian war camps, we can fight with literally anything."

"Anything?" The smile made its way to her lips.

"Anything. I mean, if Cass walks through the door and tries to seduce you, I can literally fling you at him like a fucking spear."

"Why would you throw me at him?" Cal couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up.

"Well, you do have strong legs. If I threw you properly, he'd get a nice kick to his face. Maybe he will stop trying to bag you after that."

They both laughed at the thought. He pulled her gently, making her sit on his lap. The action wasn't anything sexual, it was just sweet.

"What else?" he asked, tracing a pattern absently on her arm.

"Nothing much," she said, resting her head on his shoulder. She felt him place his cheek atop her head, taking in a deep breath. "I just- manual healing is very confusing. Specially with ashwood weapons. I mean, you can't start healing by magic if you have any ash splinter in your body. So, you need to manually remove them. And there are multiple layers of muscles, fats, and tough fibrous sheaths in various parts of the body."

"I am sure you will figure it out. And you will master it. Hey, maybe you get to try it on me someday!"

"I hope I don't have to. The techniques seem pretty- barbaric. They are going to hurt like hell. People usually pass out from the pain."

"I am sure I won't. I mean, you went through hell and I think you came out as a very strong woman."

"Who says I never passed out?"

The silence was too loud. She suddenly felt his hands squeezing her tight against his chest, as if trying to soothe some long-forgotten pain.

"I am just worried," said Cal, "that I will not be of much help."

"You will be good, Cal," said Az. "I have faith in you. And even if it hurts, I would trust you to help me heal, if it ever comes to that."

"Thank you for believing in me."

They stayed like that for a long time, just breathing together and tracing mindless patterns on each other.

"I wish I could stay like this longer," he said, squeezing her tighter.

"Then do," she said simply.

"I can't. I must leave in an hour. We are spying on the mortal queens and Hybern. I have put my network to use, but for some incidents, I have to be present. So, I won't be back for a while, Snowflake. Don't get into any trouble during that time, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good girl." He kissed the top of her head.

"I wish you didn't have to go."

"So do I. But I promise to make it up to you once I come back."

"You better. I will miss you."

"I will miss you too."

Cal got up from his lap then, kissing his forehead softly. He smiled at the contact and returned it with a gentle kiss to her lips.

He left then, and Cal went back to her book, hoping to all Gods that if ever needed, she could actually help.

A month went by.

Azriel had been right. Cal was better suited for the broadsword. Her footwork was also better with it, her stance mainly defensive.

Cassian had been pretty impressed.

She was training with Rhys.

And Gods, was he fast. She hadn't even been able to launch a clear attack before he winnowed out of her sight to appear behind her with a knife to her throat, defeating her.

She hadn't even been able to touch him. Her spirits deflated.

"Don't feel bad," said Rhys, noticing how her head dropped. "You are doing really good. For a mortal, this is excellent."

"But not good enough for a faerie, right?" Cal put the sword down, sitting down on the floor in defeat.

"Well, it could be." She felt Rhys sit down beside her. They looked at Feyre and Cassian training ahead. Feyre was so lithe, her footwork so sure. "See," Rhys continued, "I am a good fighter, and I can winnow out very well. You have caught Cassian by surprise quite a few times. Don't forget that I can read minds and hence your next moves are textbook to me."

"So what am I supposed to do if I have a strong opponent? Give up and hope that its quick?"

"No. You have to defend yourself. And look for an opening. Faeries are faster than mortals, but be assured, there will be an opening. And when you get it, hit it once. And hit it hard. You might get just that one chance."

Cal nodded, hoping that she would actually notice the opening in a real fight.

"How is- how is Azriel?" Cal said, looking tentatively at Rhys.

"He is good," said Rhys simply. "He has been sending word every few days."

"Is he safe?"

"He is my spymaster, Cal. If he finds out you're worried about his safety, he might feel a tad bit insulted. He is really good at his job, Cal. And it will take quite a lot to bring him down."

"I am glad to hear that."

"He has asked about you too, you know."

"I am glad to hear that too." She felt her cheeks getting warm at that information.

"I think you already know this," said Rhys, "but he is head-over-heels for you." Rhys chuckled lightly and Cal felt her cheeks heating up more.

"Is he? I never noticed."

"Well, just don't hurt him, okay? He has been in love with Mor for more than five hundred years. He had never expected to find anyone else. And then, you came by. In case you haven't noticed, he talks more than he used to."

"I will try not to hurt him, Rhys. I care about him too."

"Good to know. And yes, just like he is my best friend, you are my friend too. If he ever hurts you, feel free to tell me. I will kick his ass pretty hard."

Cal laughed at that. "I will keep that in mind, Rhys. Thank you."

"What about your studies? How well can you treat wounds now?"

"I haven't practiced on anyone, Rhys. And I don't want to unless absolutely necessary. I am making a note of every treatment method I am coming across; I hope they will be useful in some way. I think I know how many layers are present in each parts of the body. The herbs and potions are also sorted. Its just- the methods of treating internal wounds, penetration wounds, specially those involved with ashwood weapons, are very barbaric. I wish we could do something for the pain."

"Magic won't work if there is ashwood still inside the body, so we can't magically put them to sleep."

"I know. I hope a day never comes when we will have to resort to those methods."

"So do I, Cal. So do I."

Another month went by and Cal knew that her training was getting better. She had been able to tap Cassian in his shoulder with the fake sword every day. She had felt her hands adjusting to the weight of the broadsword, the swings becoming easier.

"I need you to do something for me," said Rhys suddenly in the middle of training.

"What?" she asked, panting for breath.

"We went to your house, like me, Feyre, Cass and Az. We have asked our warriors to stay over and protect your family. But, I think I need you to be there too."

"You are throwing me out of your house!" Cal gasped dramatically, her hand flying to her chest in mock horror.

"I am," said Rhys with a laugh. "But, seriously, I need you in the mortal realm. House of Wind, my Night Court and Velaris will always be open to you, whenever you shall have need or even want for it. And, you are my mortal agent, you know. I need you on the mortal realm as my eyes and ears. You are still working for me though, I find your work to be very satisfactory."

"Satisfactory? Someone is throwing out compliments today."

"You will take your books, a few ashwood daggers, and a broadsword to your sisters'. And I need you to stay there till I feel your family is safe. Your sisters need protection. I mean, my warriors are there, but I need you there too. So, when will you go?"

"I am ready to go now if you need me to."

"Fine then. I will drop you to your house. Please, stay in touch Cal. You will see a letter and a pen appearing every few hours. I need you to write down whatever is going on and leave it there. The message will reach me."

"Alright."